Can I get a free child car seat?

Jennifer: I was in a minor vehicle accident recently, and though neither I nor my toddler — who was riding with me was injured — a friend told me I could get a free child car seat from the insurance company. Is this true?

With so many fender-benders across America daily, I wonder if it's possible for insurance companies to replace every single child safety seat involved. And who would oversee such a large operation? I decided to start with the federal government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to see what the rules are, but I didn't get very far. With the onset of technology and many companies looking to streamline their interaction with the public, I had to fill out an online question form.

Within about 48 hours, a representative e-mailed me back and basically told me to check with my local law enforcement agency. So, I went straight to the top and called Lodi Police Chief David Main. Sgt. Chris Jacobsen, who oversaw the department's child safety seat installation program, said that anytime a vehicle is damaged in a substantial accident, the California Highway Patrol recommends the safety seat be replaced — whether it's paid for by the parents or the insurance company. Which brings me back to the NHTSA, the federal agency that oversees traffic safety nationwide. I wasn't convinced the e-mail representative had given me enough information, so I started snooping around the Web site and found these guidelines on www.nhtsa.dot.gov:

• Child safety seats should be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers.

• Child safety seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crash or those that meet all of the following requirements: The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site; the vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged; there were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants; the air bags (if present) did not deploy; and there is no visible damage to the safety seat. Still, at an average cost of $100, getting a replacement child car seat would be nice, and it would probably give you peace of mind in case you were ever involved in another vehicle accident with your child. Maybe you should call your own insurance company regarding the policy since coverage can be as varied as the makes and models of the cars on the road.

Have a question about learning or education? Ask Jennifer Bonnett. News-Sentinel reporter Jennifer Bonnett will consult local experts to make sure your question is answered. Not sure your question is relevant? Ask anyway. Contact Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.